ARSENAL MANAGER ARSENE Wenger defended his side following comments by former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes that the Gunners are a “million miles away” from competing for the Premier League title.
Last week Wenger’s 1,000th game in charge of Arsenal saw the Gunners thrashed 6-0 away to Premier League leaders Chelsea in a lopsided London derby.
And in midweek, when on the verge of a win at home to struggling Swansea, a late own-goal led instead to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Scholes, now working as a television pundit, was severely critical of Arsenal’s performance against Swansea, saying they had “midfield players with no discipline” and adding “there are no leaders” at the north London club.
But despite those recent setbacks Arsenal are still just six points behind Chelsea with seven league games of the season remaining heading into Saturday’s match at home to title contenders Manchester City, three points off top spot with two games in hand.
And that is despite the side having been hit by injuries to key players such as Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere.
“If six points (from the top) is a million miles away, then I don’t know what the translation from a mile into a point is,” Wenger said Friday.
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“Everybody has opinions, people who have managed zero games have opinions and we have to accept that,” the veteran French boss added.
“What you live with is what you do on the pitch, and all the rest is only opinions.
“We are in a society where there are thousands of opinions every day, and some go for you and some go against you. You have to live with that.”
Wenger added: “We have not given up (on the title), believe me and we can show that on Saturday. It is our attitude that will decide that.
“Champions keep going when everybody else would give up. We have an opportunity to show that we have that mentality.”
Former England international Scholes alo questioned whether Wilshere, currently sidelined with a broken foot suffered playing for England in a friendly against Denmark earlier this month, could reach the “next level”.
But Wenger responded by saying: “You cannot say that, Jack Wilshere is an exceptional player for me who has been handicapped by many injuries.
“Once Jack is back and consistently on the pitch, he will prove everybody wrong about that because he is an exceptional player — and Scholes knows that as well.”
Arsenal’s recent results have led to speculation they could be overtaken in fourth place by Everton, six points behind in fifth with a game in hand, and so miss out on a place in next season’s Champions League.
The Gunners travel to Everton’s Goodison Park next weekend and Wenger urged his side to maintain their self-belief.
“I believe that we have to keep going despite the past two negative results.
“If people say that Everton can catch us, that means we can catch the teams above us as well because they play against each other.
“It is the next game that is of course very important, and the next game is of massive importance because it is Man City and they fight at the top.
“They are the favourites with Chelsea and Liverpool, but when you play one of the favourites, you have an opportunity to shorten the distance to them.”
He added: “Let’s not forget we are in an important race in the Premier League, we are in the semi-final of the FA Cup, so it is at the moment not as doom and gloom as everybody paints the situation.”
“Slams”? A better headline would’ve been “Wenger politely disagrees with Scholes, while respecting his right to an opinion”. Please stop with the over the top tabloid style headlines.
True-managed zero games but i think Paul Scholes has ever so slightly earned the right to have a well educated football opinion especially when thats precisely what he was employed by Sky to exercise……..makes a nice change from the usual automated drivel which spews out of Redknapps mouth….
Not sure the headline is appropriate,Did Wenger slam Scholes? Was it a bodyslam? Or did he just respond to a journalists questions?
Still not sure a headline of “Wenger responds to a journalists questions ” has the same ring to it or will get as many views.
Sure haven’t we all earned the right to have football opinions,every Muppet on the comments section has some 2nd hand unoriginal drivel they”ve read somewhere else. (Me included) we’re all basically clueless but we still talk gibberish!!
Scholes is spot on and has earned the right to have his opinion. I would imagine Scholes hasnt ripped into United as it would undermine Moyes who is already getting plenty of stick.
I never understand this argument when managers/players/fans use it. Mostly seems to be a favourite of managers who cant argue with what a pundit has said, so they attack him personally.
Managerial experience in no way makes you a better pundit. In fact it usually seems like the opposite true!
Go on Wenger ya mad man, speaks the truth, put scholes on his ass. Scholes was best ever EPL midfielder, but he can’t tell the best EPL manager, Arsene Wenger, how to manage a team.
No Sean, United are 10 months away from the title, Arsenil are 10 years.
Losing 3-0 is bad but 6-0? Calamity.
The premier league have sussed Wenger out, he ‘ll never win the league again.
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“Slams”? A better headline would’ve been “Wenger politely disagrees with Scholes, while respecting his right to an opinion”. Please stop with the over the top tabloid style headlines.
True-managed zero games but i think Paul Scholes has ever so slightly earned the right to have a well educated football opinion especially when thats precisely what he was employed by Sky to exercise……..makes a nice change from the usual automated drivel which spews out of Redknapps mouth….
Not sure the headline is appropriate,Did Wenger slam Scholes? Was it a bodyslam? Or did he just respond to a journalists questions?
Still not sure a headline of “Wenger responds to a journalists questions ” has the same ring to it or will get as many views.
Sure haven’t we all earned the right to have football opinions,every Muppet on the comments section has some 2nd hand unoriginal drivel they”ve read somewhere else. (Me included) we’re all basically clueless but we still talk gibberish!!
My team is better than your team…….
Gowlbags
Meow!! Looks like the truth has hurt. Schoolers was spot on….pity he wasn’t as critical of his old club as well.
Scholes is spot on and has earned the right to have his opinion. I would imagine Scholes hasnt ripped into United as it would undermine Moyes who is already getting plenty of stick.
He was not asked about Man U because there is only so much air time available.
I never understand this argument when managers/players/fans use it. Mostly seems to be a favourite of managers who cant argue with what a pundit has said, so they attack him personally.
Managerial experience in no way makes you a better pundit. In fact it usually seems like the opposite true!
Did you read article or just headline?
Ex utd player has a pop at arsenal rather than criticize his former club who were just humiliated by their noisy neighbors
Agree with Fran there, most of them have nothing to say. It makes a nice change.
Go on Wenger ya mad man, speaks the truth, put scholes on his ass. Scholes was best ever EPL midfielder, but he can’t tell the best EPL manager, Arsene Wenger, how to manage a team.
Duplicate comment FTW
If 6 points is a million miles away then United are a million light years away, sit down scholesy boy….
You must be one of the few Gooners supporting Wenger then.
Haha best ever manager, just 8 years and 10 months since he last won a trophy, what a record!
Best manager in the modern era, and im giving you a completely unbiased point of view :’)
No Sean, United are 10 months away from the title, Arsenil are 10 years.
Losing 3-0 is bad but 6-0? Calamity.
The premier league have sussed Wenger out, he ‘ll never win the league again.
Up the toffees !!!